Bluetooth SIG Adopts Bluetooth v1.2

Posted By: Ryan Thursday, November 6, 2003 1:15:54 PM

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the trade association responsible for Bluetooth wireless technology, has announced the adoption of Bluetooth Specification Version 1.2. The update includes new features for a more reliable and easier user experience.

“The adoption of Bluetooth Core Specification Version 1.2 is the perfect example of what an industry can accomplish together in creating a standard,” said Mike McCamon, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG. “All of the work to complete this specification was done by the members, for the members of the Bluetooth SIG. It is a huge accomplishment.”

This new version of the Bluetooth Core Specification was designed for developers by developers with a view toward a more positive user experience and the future wireless world. The current specification is included in over 1000 products as diverse as computer mice and mobile phones to automobiles and various computing products. Version 1.2 is also intended to set the stage for the development of a growing number of mainstream products such as more feature rich mobile phones, headsets, PDAs, digital music players, cameras and laptops in a consumer's Personal Area Network.

The Bluetooth Core Specification Version 1.2 introduces a host of new features intended to make Bluetooth wireless technology easier and more reliable to use:

Adaptive Frequency Hopping (AFH) – AFH was explicitly designed to reduce interference between wireless technologies sharing the 2.4 GHz spectrum. Cordless telephones, microwave ovens and certain Wireless Local Area Networking (WLAN) technologies, including IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g, generally share the same wireless frequencies as Bluetooth wireless technology. AFH works within the spectrum to take advantage of the available frequencies without limiting the Bluetooth transmission to a set of frequencies occupied by other technologies. This 'adaptive hopping' allows for more efficient transmission within the spectrum, thereby providing the user with greater performance, even if using other technologies along with the Bluetooth wireless technology.
Enhanced Voice Processing – This feature is designed to improve the quality of voice connections, particularly in noisy environments, using error detection methodologies.
Faster Connection Setup – This version of the wireless technology allows for even faster connections to other Bluetooth wireless devices, thus improving the user experience.
Backward Compatible – As a core feature, the new version of the Bluetooth Core Specification is backward compatible with 1.1 Bluetooth Core Specification Version 1.1 products, allowing users of nearly all existing Bluetooth equipped devices to easily work with products built to the new Specification.

“The Bluetooth Core Specification Version 1.2 incorporates changes that are meaningful to all of the industries that can make use of Bluetooth wireless technology in their products,” added McCamon. “Version 1.2 is especially exciting for the personal computing industry, however, because of the adaptive frequency hopping feature and the realm of possibilities it opens up for complimentary wireless technologies – like Bluetooth and WiFi – to coexist in the PC.”

Consumer products that incorporate the new version of the Specification are expected to begin shipping in the next quarter, with greater volumes arriving in the market over the next 12–18 months.

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802.11 vs Bluetooth

The Ugly Tooth @ 11/6/2003 2:35:01 PM #

It is not really about one technology over another, but that the two technologies will integrate bluetooth being the personal network that connects to the wireless network.

"Sometimes the tooth just isn't pretty"

Its all PR BS! What users want

acorntree @ 11/6/2003 4:58:23 PM #

When are they gonna allow us to highlight something on our pda and beam it to another device as keystrokes.

If they every sit down and add encryption to bt... it would be nice to use it as a keychain - 1 master password, multiple password.

RE: Its all PR BS! What users want

mikecane @ 11/6/2003 5:09:33 PM #

>>>When are they gonna allow us to highlight something on our pda and beam it to another device as keystrokes.

Now *that* it a keen idea!

I'd also be happy to beam selected text just as text! (Instead of an entire Memo...)

RE: Its all PR BS! What users want

benixau @ 11/6/2003 9:38:23 PM #

It could probably be implemented as a tap+hold feature for selected text. Its an idea and i would pay $5 for it - any developers listening ……

RE: Its all PR BS! What users want

icebalm @ 11/6/2003 9:41:02 PM #

Bluetooth has encryption, that's what the PIN is for.

RE: Its all PR BS! What users want

ganoe @ 11/7/2003 10:24:22 AM #

There are a few existing shared clipboard applications already out there. You might want to take a look at those.

Super

icarus @ 11/7/2003 2:10:20 AM #

I am using BT for some time, connecting my PDA (Palm T|T) to my mobile phone (Nokia 6310i).
That was one reason to buy them. And I wouldn't give them up because of BT.

Looking forward to any improvement on this.

How about speed? Has there been any improvement on transfer rate?

icarus

[size=1][i]Palm III, Palm III, Palm m105, Palm Tungsten T, ........Waiting for HighRes+ m5xx/Zire/Clie T form factor with integrated BT (+ ev. WiFi)[/size][/i]